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 "Coal and oil may be cheap ways to power an economy today... but I
urge nations around the world: Look further down the road," he said.
As Kerry delivered a 30-minute speech trying to inject momentum into
difficult UN climate negotiations, environmentalists stood outside
holding signs calling on him to urge President Barack Obama to
reject the Canada-to-U.S. oil pipeline, which would carry heavy
Canadian crude to Texas.
Kerry must make the final recommendation to Obama about whether the
$8 billion pipeline that has been delayed more than five years is in
the national interest and whether he should approve it.
Neither Obama nor Kerry have said publicly whether they favor
approving the pipeline but said they will wait for the Nebraska
court ruling.
 Environmental activists in Lima said if Kerry approves the project,
he would be going against the spirit of his speech.
“Secretary Kerry sure sounded like someone who was gearing up for
rejection," said Jamie Henn of green group 350.org. "(He) has left
himself no logical option except to recommend President Obama say no
to Keystone XL."
The chief negotiator at UN climate talks for the Pacific island
nation Nauru said approving Keystone would erode the positive steps
the United States has made to show climate leadership.
“Now is not the time to call the superpower’s commitment to tackling
this crisis into question by letting this dirty, myopic, and
irresponsible project go forward,” said Nauru Ambassador Marlene
Moses.
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Canada is under strong economic pressure to send its vast reserves
of heavy crude oil to market. But Canadian Environment Minister
Leona Aglukkaq told Reuters she has no plans to meet Kerry in Lima.
A Nebraska Supreme Court ruling on whether the proposed route of the
pipeline is legal could come as early as Friday. If the court deems
the route legal, Obama may be forced to make a decision soon. Final
construction could begin with presidential approval.
On any Friday from now until the end of January, the seven-judge
panel may issue its ruling on whether state lawmakers were right to
clear the way for the controversial project.
(Reporting By Valerie Volcovici in Lima; additional reporting by
Patrick Rucker in Washington; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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